Amphibians at Peoria Zoo

There are more than 6,000 species of amphibians living today. This animal class includes toads and frogs, salamanders and newts, and caecilians. Amphibians have skin that is very permeable. This permeable skin helps them breathe, since oxygen passes easily through it. Amphibians lose a lot of water through their skin. This is why most amphibians are found in moist or humid environments, where they can re-load their water reserves. Amphibians are ectotherms or cold blooded, this means that amphibians cannot produce sufficient internal heat to maintain a constant body temperature. Instead an amphibian's body temperature varies, depending on the surrounding temperature.